Tennessee football: Remembering Jim Chaney’s 5 games vs. Vols, Jeremy Pruitt

2. 2017: No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs vs. No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide

(National Championship – Played in 2018)

The most memorable game between Jeremy Pruitt and Jim Chaney came just as Pruitt was coaching his last game with the Alabama Crimson Tide before getting set to take over as head coach of Tennessee football. And it’s the memorable national championship.

We all know the story on the other side of the ball, Brian Daboll vs. Mel Tucker. The Georgia Bulldogs’ defense shut down the Alabama Crimson Tide in the first half, and Nick Saban switched from Jalen Hurts to Tua Tagovailoa at halftime.

Tagovailoa then led the Tide back from a 13-0 deficit to win 26-23 in overtime, throwing for 166 yards and three touchdowns. What Saban did to Smart there was brutal, but again, the other story was what happened between Pruitt and Chaney.

Grading Jim Chaney’s performance: D

This is where people get their concerns with Jim Chaney. He can stick to a game plan and not adjust. That problem was with Tennessee football as well. Georgia had built a methodical 13-0 lead over Alabama’s defense in the first half. However, they really had no legitimate points in the second half. The touchdown was a fluke 80-yard pass from Jake Fromm to Mecole Hardman. To make matters worse, Chaney helped give the game away when, after the Dawgs got an interception and were at the Alabama 39 up 20-7, he called a first down pass that was intercepted itself and gave the Tide a chance to get back in it. Losing nine yards on their overtime possession was the biggest nail in the coffin.

Grading Jeremy Pruitt’s performance: A-

While Jim Chaney’s fell apart in the second half, Jeremy Pruitt proved just how great at adjustments he is. His defense wasn’t the problem in the first half anyway, as the offense simply couldn’t get anything going. But in the second half, he shut down Jake Fromm and co. Again, that 80-yard touchdown was a total fluke. Outside of that, Pruitt essentially shut out Chaney. And he forced a turnover when it was most needed, which has always been a staple of his style. We even wrote then that Pruitt got the best of Chaney. And we’re not going to change from that now just because Pruitt hired Chaney.